Character Quotes by Benjamin Franklin

Laws without morals are in vain.

— Benjamin Franklin

To be proud of virtue, is to poison yourself with the Antidote.

— Benjamin Franklin

There never was a good knife made of bad steel.

— Benjamin Franklin

Virtue and Happiness are Mother and Daughter.

— Benjamin Franklin

Search others for their virtues, thyself for thy vices.

— Benjamin Franklin

What can laws do without morals?

— Benjamin Franklin

Idleness is the Dead Sea that swallows all virtues

— Benjamin Franklin

Search others for their virtues, thy self for thy vices

— Benjamin Franklin

Virtue alone is sufficient to make a man great, glorious, and happy.

— Benjamin Franklin

Virtues, of ... Moderation: Avoid extremes. Forbear resenting injuries so much as you think they deserve.

— Benjamin Franklin

Virtues, of ... Justice: Wrong none by doing injuries or omitting the benefits that are your duty.

— Benjamin Franklin

Hast thou virtue? acquire also the graces and beauties of virtue.

— Benjamin Franklin

I believe long habits of virtue have a sensible effect on the countenance.

— Benjamin Franklin

'tis his honesty that brought upon him the character of a heretic.

— Benjamin Franklin

There is much difference between imitating a good man and counterfeiting him.

— Benjamin Franklin

To be thrown upon one's own resources is to be cast into the very lap of fortune; for our faculties then undergo…

— Benjamin Franklin

It is much to be lamented that a man of Franklin's general good character and great influence should have been an unbeliever…

— Benjamin Franklin

Religion I found to be without any tendency to inspire, promote, or confirm morality, serves principally to divide us and make us…

— Benjamin Franklin

Think how great a proportion of mankind, consists of weak and ignorant men and women, and of inexperienced youth of both sexes,…

— Benjamin Franklin

A perfect character might be attended with the inconvenience of being envied and hated; and that a benevolent man should allow a…

— Benjamin Franklin

Industry and frugality, as the means of procuring wealth . . . thereby [secures] virtue, it being more difficult for a man…

— Benjamin Franklin

Nothing is more important for the public wealth than to form and train youth in wisdom and virtue. Only a virtuous people…

— Benjamin Franklin

For my own part, I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen the representative of our country. He is a bird…

— Benjamin Franklin

I think also, that general virtue is more probably to be expected and obtained from the education of youth, than from exhortations…

— Benjamin Franklin

That there is one God, who made all things. That he governs the world by his providence. That he might be worshipped…

— Benjamin Franklin

History will also afford frequent opportunities of showing the necessity of a public religion, from its usefulness to the public; the advantage…

— Benjamin Franklin

If a sound body and a sound mind, which is as much as to say health and virtue, are to be preferred…

— Benjamin Franklin

Righteousness, or justice, is, undoubtedly of all the virtues, the surest foundation on which to create and establish a new state. But…

— Benjamin Franklin

I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country; he is a bird of bad moral…

— Benjamin Franklin

If we look back into history for the character of the present sects in Christianity, we shall find few that have not…

— Benjamin Franklin

My List of Virtues contain'd at first but twelve: But a Quaker Friend having kindly inform'd me that I was generally thought…

— Benjamin Franklin

If we look back in history for the character of the present sects in Christianity, we shall find a few that have…

— Benjamin Franklin

Much Virtue in Herbs, little in Men.

— Benjamin Franklin

Sloth and Silence are a Fool's Virtues

— Benjamin Franklin

Whoever feels pain in hearing a good character of his neighbor, will feel a pleasure in the reverse. And those who despair…

— Benjamin Franklin

Some of the domestic evils of drunkenness are houses without windows, gardens without fences, fields without tillage, barns without roofs, children without…

— Benjamin Franklin

Do not, however, mistake me. It is not to my good friend's heresy that I impute his honesty. On the contrary, 'tis…

— Benjamin Franklin

Idleness is the Dead Sea that swallows all virtues. Be active in business, that temptation may miss her aim; the bird that…

— Benjamin Franklin

“of light and life, thou Good Supreme!           O teach me what is good; teach me Thyself!           Save me from folly, vanity, and…

— Benjamin Franklin